Position-By-Position: Mesa numbers low, expectations high

Grant hopes to convince Mustangs' 34 players that battling rival Estancia does not a season make.

August 14, 2012|By David Carrillo Peñaloza

Grant said Markiece Traylor, who was ineligible last year, is a wideout with speed and great hands. The senior runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.

Juniors Daniel Lawrence (6-1) and Quinten Bell (6-3), a transfer from Long Beach Poly, will see time at receiver as well.

Tight end: Anthony McCormick returns as a starter. The 6-2, 230-pounder will be doing a lot more blocking than route running in the Mustangs' run-oriented attack.

Advertisement

When the team goes to a double-tight-end formation, Villalpondo or Bell will line up.

Offensive line: The guys up front are bigger than last season's group.

The biggest isn't senior Oscar Reyes, a third-year starter, but the 5-7, 215-pound left guard is the strongest. He's the first to join Grant's 1,000-pound club, which combines the bench, squat and power clean exercises.

At left tackle is junior Marco Zalpa (6-2, 270 pounds) and senior Brian Elias (6-2, 330) is the right tackle. Next to Elias on the right side is junior guard Joseph Quiroz (6-2, 265).